Ryanair in high-level meetings to push takeover

RYANAIR expects to hold meetings with the Government and Aer Lingus shareholders over the coming days.

If Ryanair gains control of Aer Lingus, it would be the first time one of Europe’s formerly state-owned carriers fell under the control of a no-frills airline.

However, NCB analysts said Ryanair’s bid to buy Aer Lingus will probably be thwarted by regulators concerned that a tie-up would give Europe’s largest discount carrier too large a share of the Irish market.